Slidable keyhole guard connected with circuit-breaking devices



Jamw 9,1923.

C. G. McKINNEY.

SLIDABLE K EYHOLE GUARD CONNECTED WITH CIRCUIT BREAKING DEVICES.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

FILED MAR. 21, I922.

\ lllm Jan Q, 1923 C. G. McKINNEY.

SLIDABLE KEYHOLE GUARD CONNECTED WITH CIRCUIT BREAKING DEVICES.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FILED MAR. 21, 1922.

IIIIIIIIII IIIA H m m m w atente Tan. TF3.

I CLAUDE MCKINNEY, 01E HENRIETTA, TEXAS.

SLIDABLE KEYI'TOLE' GUARD CONNECTED WITH CIRCUIT-BREAKING DEVICES.

Application filed March 21, 1922. Serial No. 545,432.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T,.CLAUDE Gr. McK1N- I NEY, a citizen .of the United States,'residing at Henrietta, in the county of Clay and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Slidable Keyhole Guards Connected with Circuit-Breaking lDevices, of which the following is a specification. p

This invention relates to a slidable keyhole guard connected with a circuit breaking device and designed to be used in connection with an automobile steering wheel locking mechanism which of itself forms the subject matter of a separate application. The object of the invention is to provide a key guard wh'ich'will prevent a key being inserted in the look while the engine is cut off, and which will also prevent the switch lever being thrown unless the steering wheel shaft is first locked, making it necessary to lock said shaft, and remove the key before cutting ofi the engine.

lln the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device showing its location on the steering wheel post.

Figure 2 is a plan view, partly in section, of my locking and circuit breaking devices, the steering shaft being looked and the switch lever being in off or neutral position. I

Figure 3 is a similar view, the parts being in running position.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5- -5 of Figure 6 is a section through the lock casing showing the guard plate in side elevation. I I

Figure 7 is a detail section through the steerin shaft locking mechanism.

In the draWings A is the internal gear casing mounted on the steering post and having the usual cap 1B.v M lock casing 1 is mounted on this cap. ortions'of the steering wheel shaft are indicated at 2.v

A gear wheel 3 is keyed to the shaft 2 within the casing 1. A shaft 4; carries a locking lug or tooth 5 adapted to engage this wheel, the shaft being rotated by a lock 6 and key 7, of the pin type. Aspiring 5 holds the tooth 5 in either looking or unlocking position. I

The parts above referred to are all shown and described in my co-pending application;

A switch lever 8 controls'the ignition circuit,either'fron1 battery or magneto, depending on the position-of the lever. lit has a stem 9 and plate 10 adapted to engage either rocking contact plates 11 or 12, said plates making contact at points 13 and 14:, the circuit closed, battery or magneto depending on the side to which the lever 8 is thrown. Midway its swinging movement both circuits are open. To lockthis lever and prevent the motor being cut out without looking the steering shaft I provide a keyhole guard in the form of a slide 16.- A link 17 on the stem 9 ispivoted to a pin 18 on the slide or plate 16., This 'plate works against a wall of the casing, and between said wall and the entrance to the lock 6, working transversely across the keyhole. Its end portion is slotted as at 19 and a transverse web 20 extends across the slot. The circuit wires are indicated at 15. It will be understood that the circuits do not form any part of the present invention and are referred to only to make the operation of the deviceclear.

This operation is as follows:

When the parts are in running position the lever 8 is moved to position to close one of the circuits, as in Figure '3, the steering plate 16 and the bifurcated link 17 prevents any movement of the lever 8 unaccompanied by movement of the plate 16, so that'as long as the key 7 is in the lock the ngine cannot be cut off. To remove the keyit is necessary to give it a one-half rotation, thereby lock-. ing the steering wheel shaft by throwing the tooth 5 into engagement with the gear 3. The key can then be removed and the lever 8 swung to neutral position cutting off the motor. This movement brings the web 20 across the keyhole, so that the steering wheel cannot be again unlocked without firststarting the engine.

Should therefore any attempt be made to pick the lock the work on it must'be done after and during the running of the engine, which would necessarily attract the attention of the owner if near by. This device looking also prevents the" operator of a machineparking the same with motor cut out, as required b law in most places, without first is steering wheel.

What I claim is:--v 1 1. In a device of the kind described, the

combination with a steering shaft locking device including a lock and a key, an ignition switch lever, and a slidable slotted plate ,inlwhich the key is adapted to work and -whioh is loosely connected to said lever, locking said'lever against movement while I theqkey is in the lock.

2. In a steering shaft locking device comprising a lock having a keyhole and a key therefor, a slotted plate having a transverse T web. working across said keyhole, a switch lever, and means connecting the lever and plate for moving the latter across the keyhole, movement of both plate and lever beingprevented by said key while the latter is in-the keyway.

3. In a device of the kind described, a switch lever having a neutral position, contact plates closed by movement of the lever .the lever to neutral position is'prevented as long as said key is in position in the lock barrel, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CLAUDE G. MCKINNEY. 

